Road construction work zones are busy areas that present many potential hazards for construction workers, motorists, pedestrians, and other public road users with several work activities taking place at the same time. Therefore, it is important that worksite safety professionals consider some standards and guidelines. To help you plan, develop and implement your strategies efficiently, ProjectLink has compiled a list of road safety tips and equipment in an infographic. The safety solutions listed here will help you set up and maintain a safe work zone.

With multiple teams, heavy machinery, castings and concrete works and precarious spaces – Construction sites are busy and fairly dangerous spaces. With proper coordination, consultation and cooperation organisations can ensure the health and safety of all members present on site.

What is Construction Work

Construction work is any work carried out in connection with the construction, alteration, conversion, fitting out, commissioning, renovation, repair, maintenance, refurbishment, demolition, decommissioning or dismantling of a structure, or preparation of a building site.

National Approach

Due to the nature of risk to life involved in certain industries, the Australian government has been proactive in creating laws and strategies to enable the safe working conditions. The Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012-2022 has identified the construction industry as a priority due to the high number and rate of work-related fatalities and serious injuries.

For a number of years, construction has consistently been among the top few industries with the highest number of serious claims. Since 2006-07, it has had the fifth highest incidence rate of serious claims of all industries. The Strategy aims to reduce the incidence of serious injury by at least 30% nationwide by 2022 and reduce the number of work-related fatalities due to injury by at least 20%.

Since the Strategy launched, Safe Work Australia and all jurisdictions have been working collaboratively with the industry, unions, relevant organisations and the community to reduce traumatic injury fatalities and injuries in the transport industry.

Precautionary Measures on Site

The old adage “Prevention is better than cure”, cannot be ignored when we consider the safety of staff and works on site.

Personal Safety Equipment

Equipping the staff members with personal safety equipment can save the PCBU (Person conducting business or undertaking) a fair amount of heartache. Helmets or hard hats, safety glasses, gloves, safety boots and earmuffs are the basic construction wear if provided to the workers can immediately reduce claims and injuries.Click here to know more about safety wear »

Safety Equipment

Depending on the nature of the construction, equipment like safety harnesses, safe cage lifts, safety eyewash, and fireproofing can ensure the work is carried out with minimum problems.

Safety Officer or Consultant

It is also fairly common, and a norm growing in popularity to hire a safety officer or consultant to guide from workers to the management staff the proper guidelines and processes to ensure the injuries and fatalities can be prevented while working on the site. The safety officer also makes rounds of the site to ensure that staff is adhering to the guidelines.

Every industry has its unique processes that involve both, humans and machines. All these processes pose some hazards which require unique safety measures. However, there are some risk factors that are common for all sectors. These risk factors can turn out to be life threatening, if proper precautions are not taken.

Construction and mining sites are no exception to the risk of hazards, be it huge or small. Though the industries have advanced their processes and with high technology, there is always a risk to human life at the sites. This makes it imperative for both, employers and employees to follow a strict protocol for safety precautions.

Here is a list of some of the basic personal protective equipment (PPE) for construction workers:

Eye and Face Safety Equipment

The eyes and face are most sensitive parts of the body and hence they need utmost precaution at construction sites. Majority of eye injuries take place due to foreign particles, gasses or objects that get into the eyes while welding, cutting, grinding, nailing, working with concrete etc. Working at sites with extreme winds, sparks, smoke, or dangerous chemicals also requires high precautions and safety equipment.

The essential safety equipment may vary according to the kind of work one is assigned to. For instance, stringent safety measures need to be adhered to by people working in close vicinity of welding machines or any acidic substance. There are many safety gears available in market that are specifically designed to be used for certain tasks. Based on safety requirements of various industries, ProjectLink has listed out the top eyes and face protection gear to choose from.

Head Protection

Construction worker or not, if you are even walking through a site while the work is in progress – you have to wear a hard hat. This is the most important and fundamental requirement for any construction site. At construction sites, there is always a risk of objects falling from heights, and causing serious injury to your head. The hard hat is a vital gear that shields workers or visitors from falling object and/or direct contact with any harmful material. These hats are also useful for a protection from rain, direct sun rays, and electric shock.

Predominantly these hard hats are made of high density polyethylene (HDPE) or advanced engineering resins, like, Ultem. They are capable of protecting person’s head from major injuries. Many of these hats also designed with accessories like face shield, hearing protection and ventilation to keep the wearer comfortable. Other advanced accessories that can be attached to these hats include, radio, walkie-talkies, mirrors, lights, cameras etc.

It is essential to keep these hard hats in good condition, and immediately replace them in case of any damage.

What comes to your mind when you look at a new skyscraper being constructed? Huge cranes, forklifts, scaffolding, many kinds of ladders and temporary stairs etc.

For a new entrant in the construction industry to understand what ladders, stairs, and scaffolds are, can be an overwhelming experience. Even if you have been in the industry for long, you would appreciate the experience and knowledge you have gathered over time to learn the benefits for using such equipment definitely helps in creating a safer, healthier and comfortable working environment for your construction workers.

Various types of scaffolding and stairs are available for construction workers to use. You will be surprised to know how utilizing the right type of equipment for your construction site could help you to build smarter, safer and quicker.

ProjectLink has gathered a list of smart solutions for working at heights that could help you to create a better and safer environments for your workers.

Aluminium Stairway

Ladders always carry the risk of falling or associated construction hazards. In order to reduce such risks, shifting to using safety stairways has a lot of merit. One of the popular additions in ProjectLink’s database, Aluminium Stairways from Global Scaffold, are a considerable option for construction site safety stairways. These stairways are lightweight, durable, and safe, and eliminate the need for ladders on site. These safety stairways are compatible with A-frame Scaffolds and Quick Scarf, and the side trails improves the work efficiency and makes them a safe option for the workers.

Mobile Towers

While use of ladders can work fine for lower floors, using ladders for work on second or higher floors is neither easy nor safe. In such situations, switching to scaffold towers is the perfect solution for your construction site, and even for any DIY project. Erecting scaffold towers to desired heights is quite simple, and these are very easy to deploy at different sites.

One of the popular scaffold towers in the market, is Mobile Towers. These towers come with adjustable scaffold castors with locking brakes and they carry a 450kg load rating (the maximum permitted on Aluminium Mobile Scaffold Towers). Moreover, these lightweight Mobile Towers come with a LIFETIME GUARANTEE.

Design Engineering

If you are working in industries such as steel making, minerals processing, production facilities etc., your need of ladders or high platforms might differ from the traditional construction ladders and scaffolds. Given the efficiency requirements and safety norms, zeroing in on the right kind and quality of ladder/high platform can be quite a challenge.

In situations these like, working with professionals like, Sherwood Design & Engineering PTY LTD, can bring in lot of value to your business. Sherwood Design and Engineering offer a competent team of engineers who can design structures, platforms, walkways, ladders and stairways to relevant codes. You can now get your own customized solution for working safely at heights.

QuickScaff

Scaffolds are always a better option to ladders, especially, while working on a giant building project. The task becomes easier if you opt for more efficient, lightweight scaffold that has an easy erection mechanism to attain the desired height. QuickScaff is something that fits perfectly into that profile.

Aluminium QuickScaff from Global Scaffold, are one-third of the weight of its steel counterparts, and has a maximum freestanding height of 4 meters. Use of scaffold offers significant savings on labour cost and improves work efficiency. The most attractive feature of this scaffolding is the exceptionally simple mechanism to erect it to the height of 20 meters (Licensed).

Vertical Fall Arrest System

Ladders have been commonly used since ‘Adam’, and hence they become an easy choice for most. However, use of ladders always carries life risks, especially, when they are used for work at exceptional heights.

When it comes to safety, most builders prefer using ladder cages; these can prevent workers from falling backwards. However such cages prove to be ineffective in preventing downwards fall. Given this, these cages are not a full-proof protection option for employees working at great heights. This really underscores the reason behind increasing interest towards opting for vertical fall arrest systems.

A vertical fall arrest system attaches the workers to the ladder at all times, be it climbing on or off the ladder. One of the leading suppliers of height safety equipment, Anchor Point Engineering recommends and installs two very well-known Vertical Fall Arrest systems, the Sala “Lad-Saf” and the Sayfa “Arresta”. Both of these systems can be attached to existing ladders and give the workers a confidence to work freely, without worrying about falling.

Portable Work Platforms

Finally, there is a perfect solution for all the business owner who have to manage multiple projects at different locations, simultaneously. This also holds true for people who work on projects that involve loading (and climbing onto) trucks with various deck heights, or picking packages from multi height shelves.

The VRS Squirrel Series from Accumax Global, offers a safe, fast and efficient mobile platform to work at heights. These portable solutions boost productivity by offering highly versatile, adaptable (with easy to fit option), and safe platform to work on. These VRS Squirrel platforms are currently being used for varied usages, from tradesman on building sites, to maintenance workers in oil refineries, to cite a few.

We understand the requirements of a particular equipment can vary from industry to industry. It’s quite possible that your business might need something different and customized than all these equipment above. ProjectLink offers a comprehensive list of Australia’s leading suppliers for high quality and advanced equipment to work safely and efficiently at heights. Check out the complete list and shop exactly what you are looking for!

The construction industry is one of the major sources of employment, all over the world. In fact, in Australia, it is one of the “high demand and high paying” industries. However, along with the bright side, there are a few extremely dangerous hazards that accompany the work at construction sites.

Irrespective of whether the construction project is very small, like a small part of a residential apartment, or a large one on a construction site, the risks of injury and damages always exist. Thus, proper planning and precautions play a critical role in safety of workers or for anyone passing through the construction site.

So, just before you go ahead and start your work, here are a few common hazards that occur at construction sites, and some key safety tips for you to avoid these risks.

5 Most Common Hazards at Construction Sites and their Safety Tips

Working at Scaffoldings

Scaffolds are the most frequently used equipment at any large construction site. And, over a million of workers use on these foldings, day and night. Hence, the risks of falling from these scaffold or getting under one, is high.

Installation Tips

Do not alter the scaffoldings without consulting with the manufacturer

Make sure the scaffoldings are set on solid and sound footing

Always make sure the scaffoldings are fully planked or decked

Replace or repair any damaged parts that have, even, the slightest risk of breaking

Provide the required training to all the employees who work on the scaffolds, especially, when the scaffolds are designed to be mobile and can move horizontally

Prohibit all the workers to work on scaffoldings, when these are covered with snow, ice, or any other slippery materials

Do not move or erect scaffolds within 10 miles(approx.) of the existing power lines

Avoid working on the scaffolds during the bad weather or high winds

Do not build up anything on the platform, to increase the height of the scaffoldings

Avoid overloading

Falling

Falling is most common, yet life threatening accident that occurs at construction sites. There are a number of factors that cause falls, including unstable working surfaces, misuse or failure to use fall protection equipment and human error etc.

Installation Tips

Install control line system near the edges of the roofs or floors of unfinished levels. Also, consider using erect guardrail system with toeboards and warnings

Provide the workers with a personal fall arrest system and use the safety nets

Falling Objects

The another very common hazards is falling of the objects from the constructions sites. Sometimes such objects can be significantly big in size,and hence it becomes all the more important to take due precautions towards protecting workers and equipment.

Installation Tips

Make it mandatory for all the employees to wear hard hats/helmets, especially, while working on the areas where there is a high risk of objects falling from above

Use safety-toed footwear to prevent crushed-toes, when working around heavy equipment or falling objects.

All elevated surfaces that have working area beneath them should have four inch toeboards

Hazards Associated with the Ladders

Misused and poor quality ladders or stairways, can cause injuries or other accidents at the construction sites. There is a huge number of workers who go through such accidents every year, and sometimes these accidents quite serious and can lead to time-off from the job.

Installation Tips

Appropriate ladder according to the tasks should be used to avoid risks

Before using the ladder always conduct a check on them for any damage or defect, including:

Any kind of structural defect, broken or missing steps and split or bent side rails

Damaged safety devices

Any kind of greasy or other kind of slippery material on the steps or side rails

Make sure that none of the stickers or pain hide any defect beneath them, except for the warning or instruction labels

Check the height of the ladders for easy reach to the work area

Tag the defective ladders as “Do Not Use”, to avoid any possible hazard

Avoid overloading – check the weight capacity marked by the manufacturer. Also, check if the ladder is capable of supporting the weight of the worker along with their equipments and other stuff

Be careful with the electric wiring or power lines, while placing any metallic ladder at any place

Forklifts and other Powerful Hardware

The construction equipment are also upgrading with constant changing automobile technology. In fact, every now and then we get something smarter and more powerful. However, no matter how smart or powerful these tools get, some human involvement is needed to operate them.

The accidents occurring while using forklifts, are also, one of the most common but dangerous hazards that take place at construction sites.

Installation Tips

Make sure that all the workers, who are going to work with forklifts, should be perfectly trained to drive and operate them

Make sure that all the employees, who are going to work on these equipment, are of legal age

The forklifts should be properly maintained with all the haulage

Do not modify the capacity and safety equipment, until you get an expert view and approval from manufacturer

Examine the equipments or the trucks before every use

While working on the forklifts:

Follow the safety procedures provided by manufacturer to operate it for picking, moving, or putting down heavy materials

Always drive safely according to the legal speed limits and other regulations

Operators should always wear seat belts

Make sure the reverse signal alarm is working and is set to the sound level above all the surroundings

Never allow any of the workers or yourself to do stunts or horseplay with the vehicle

Do not allow overloading

Examine the trucks and equipment on a regular basis and remove the defective ones from service